It Really Is: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour6

by Dan Tabor

So, how do you end one of the most beloved series to come out of comics in the last 6 years, and not disappoint your rabidly loyal fan-base? Why very carefully, that’s how.

Last Monday night, like most of the devoted Scott Pilgrim fans chomping at the bit for the 6th and final volume, Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour, I was at a midnight launch party at my local comic shop Brave New Worlds; waiting to get my hot little hands on a copy of one of the most anticipated books of the year. It says a lot these day about a graphic novel when it’s celebrated with not only a midnight launch, but free beer and pizza as well.

But just for the record, Scott Pilgrim is not your average graphic novel.

For those not in the know, Scott Pilgrim is the story of a lovable 23-year-old Canadian slacker who must, in order to win the heart of his love, defeat her 7 evil exes. This is where it takes what could’ve simply have been a love story, and adds a bit of the fantastic. Scott has to fight everything from vegan psychics to giant robots, all the way to the final big boss, her most recent ex Gideon. In a series that I believe finally got the fusion of Japanese manga and American comics right, this is one of the few series that simply gets better with every volume released.

Warning, Spoilers Ahead:

We enter volume 6 with almost a year gone by the wayside and there is quite a bit to catch up on; Scott has turned into a complete and total wreck since the heart wrenching ending of volume 5. He has become a total shut-in, and it seems like while he was in his apartment hiding – the whole world went on without him. Knives is going to college, Stephen is starting a new band, a whole new group of kids are now deciding who and what is cool and Ramona is still nowhere to be found.

Scott tries to rejoin society only to keep coming off as old, creepy and awkward to everyone he knows. Still somewhat delusional about Ramona leaving him, he is still waiting for his final battle with Gideon, even though technically he doesn’t have to fight him anymore. It’s here that Scott decides (like most heroes) that what he needs is a wilderness excursion to get his head together before he faces Gideon, in hopes he will defeat him and potentially win back the heart of Ramona.

Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour seems like the most well paced and carefully planned of any volume in the series. While other volumes tended to ride by the seat of their pants volume 6 is skillfully paced and structured, to keep the momentum building at a slow and steady speed to an ending that definitely meets (and exceeds!) expectations on all accounts. While this volume is a little light on the whimsical, and a bit more of the serious, which was to be expected, it works as a fitting end to the series.

The book tied up a lot of loose ends I had lying around after volume 5, neatly buttoning up everyone’s storyline to the point. I really don’t think we will be seeing another volume in the future. You can also see not only the culmination in this volume of the actual story, but the evolution of the comic as a whole: writing, art and story wise as well. This was a living growly ever-evolving piece of art that will  no-doubt stand the test of time. Bryan Lee O’Malley has raised the bar for creators everywhere, giving us one of the best series to come around in a very long time. Thank you and good night Scott Pilgrim.